Connecter



June 1 2, 1928.

-W-. J. ADAMS, JR

CONNECTER Filed Dec. 7, 1925 nmnnanm v lnvenTor:

William J. AdamsJ/t, v

Patented June 12, 1928.

g UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM J. ADAMS, JR., OF I-IARTSDALE, NEIV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO BELLTELEPHONE LABORATORIES, INCORPORATED, OF YORK.

NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATIONOF NEW CONNECTER.

Application filed December 7, 1925. Serial No. 73,599.

at points in the circuit. This necessity frequently arises in connectionwith resistors,

potentiometers, inductance coils and condenser units. In connection withsuch apparatus, it is also desirableyin general, to be able to rapidlychange a connection in order to vary an adjustment of the system inwhich the apparatus is employed. j

The present invention provides a simple and effective connecting devicefor making rapid adjustments inelectrical circuits and for producing a.semi-permanent connection.

It is one object of theinvention to enable easy and rapid adjustment ofelectrical de- VlCBS. v

Another object is to provide a rigid terminal connection for electricalapparatus;

feature of the invention is an adjustable eonnecter comprising a rigidconductor and a movable link conductor having a clamp for making rigidmechanical and electrical connections tothe conductors;

A further feature is a clamp for mechani- Cally and electricallyconnecting a plurality of conductors which may be released or actuatedby a. single operation.

The invention in its general aspects comprises a connecting deviceincluding a fixed conductor, a movable link conductor and a clamp forholding the two inrigid electrical and mechanical connection. The clampis mounted upon and slidable along the fixed conductor and the link ismounted upon and movable with respect to the clamp. The link conductormay be of any desired form adapted for making rapid connection to theparticular kind of apparatus, terminal or conductor with which it isassociated.

The invention may be used for making adjustable connection to anydesired apparatus, conductor or circuit and is illustrated as applied toa variable resistor and a variable coil.

The invention is illustrated in the draw ings wherein:

Fig. 1 shows the connector of the invention assembled in connection witha resistor.

Fig. 2 is a view partly in section on line Fig. 3 is a' view inperspective showing the device of the invention adapted formakingadjustable connection to an inductance coil.

In Fig. l, a rigid conductor 10, which is illustrated as a cylindricalrod, is supported by suitable hangers 11 attached to an insulating plate12 which may be, for example. oibakelite. The insulating plate 12 alsocarries a row of terminal conductors 13 which may be permanentlyelectrically connected to separate points along a resistance 14.

' The resistance 14, may be replaced. by any other electrical devicesuch for example, as a series otcondensers or inductance units.

A link conductor 15 is adapted to connect the terminals 13 to the rigidconductor 10. This is accomplished at one end by means of binding posts16; which are threaded to the terminal elements 13, and at the oppositeend' by means of a clamp 17 which is illus trated in detail in Fig. 2.

v The link 15 has one end provided with an open slot 18 adapted to allowthe link to be inserted between the head of any binding post and theassociated terminalconductor 13. At the opposite end of the link 15 is aclosed slot 19 for the insertion of a bolt 20 oft-he clamp 17 by meansot'which the link is held in a rectangular groove on the face of theclamp block 24. The slot'19 allows the link a limited movement in thegroove .30 with respect tothe bolt 20 and the binding post 16 when theknurled nut 21, which is threaded to the bolt 20, is released.

The head of bolt 20 has a portion of its inner edgebeveled and includedin the slot 23 provided in the clampblock 24 in such manner as to haveits beveled edge positioned adjacent to the conductor 10 which isinserted in another slot 25 communicating with the slot 23. When the nut21 is tight sued the head 22 of the bolt is pressed against theconductor 10 and the link 15 is held in a normal position between thenut 21 and the block 24 as illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to change the link to another position this may bedone by merely looseningwtheassociated binding post 16 and the knurlednut" 21-. The-slots provided in the link allow its removal from" onebinding post and its connection to another withoutcompletelyremovingeithef the binding post or-tlie knurled nut;

The nut 21 is retained upon the bolt 22 and allowed only a limitedmovement by'a" washer rivetedto the end of thebolt.

The beveled edge of the head'of bolt 20 is positioned adjacent to theconductor 10 so that even when t he nut 21 is unscrewed to the limit ofits movement,'the head 22 is prevented from tur'ning in the slot 23.Thisfeature possesses the advantage that the bolt is held in positionWhen the nut 21 is turned so that the clamp. may be readily tightened.Moreover, by a. single adjustment of the nutQl, the link may be held inosition and the member 24 clamped to the conductor lO, or the Wholevarrangement p so that the link 15 may be nay be. re leased, ithdrawnfrom one terminal 13; the block 2 may be moved along conductor 10, andthe link 15 may be reconnected to another terminal 13. j I v V Theprovision of a rigid conductor 1O; is

ofconsi lerable importance, because by this illustrated in; relation toan inductance coil In F' .3 the connecter ofthis invention is comprisinga bare conductor 27,01? rectangular form. iylhe connecter shovvn in thisfigure is similar to that described in connection ivith Figsqland 2 withthe exception that the link 1'5is replaced by contact springs 28atta'chedto the block 2% for more readily makingconnection directly tothe coil conductor and thereby eliminating all terminals or bindingposts. 9 i

By a single adjustment of the nut :21 in this figure; the clampmaybeloosened and the'spr'ings 28' niay be moved toany desired turn ofthe coil and quickly connected thereto; 1 I

An added advantage ofthe arrangement ofthis invention is that the slidir'i g. "movemerit of the link 15 against the terminal 13 and the block24 maintains a clean surface between these members whereby a goodelectrical connection is secured at all times. Likewise, the slidingmovement of the springs 28 along the conductor 27 ofjthe coil in Fig. 3maintains a good electrical connec tion thereivithin the samemanner. 7

Although the invention is described in connectionwith certain specificstructural arrangements; it may nevertheless be ape,

plied to numerous other embodiments and this applicationgis to belimited oniyss iiidicated' by the scope of the appended claims.

YVhat is claimed is: p

1. In combination, a-plulality (statements arranged in a row, aconductor commonto said elements and positioned parallel to said row, amovable link conductor adapted to make electrical connection to any ofsaid elements a-blOck member .t pQ l which said link conductor ismounted to move at right angles to said conductor to efie'ctfeonnectionto said elements, said'block being slid'ably mounted on said conductorto 'eliang'etherelation of. said, 111115; to. said elements, andmean'sadapted to secure said link and block to said conductor toestablishan electrical connection between said conductor and any ofsaid'elements, V I11 i t lt l i n fi fie fixed 901,

ductor and a movable conductor, and means for retaining said fixed andmovable conductors electrically connected comprising a block providedwith two slots positioned at right angles to and e'oinmunicatingwitheach, other, one of said slots includingsaid fixed conductor, theother'ofsali'dfslots' eluding a bolt, said bolt having abeveled headadapted toeng'age said fixedcondnctor to prevent rotation of said bolt.

In Witness whereof, I herel lfito subscribe name this 1st day ofDecember A. 1).,

WILLIAM J. Amritsa-

